And, here, he was being confronted with yet another reason why he wasn't. What were they thinking letting some boy who looked just barely his age risk his life to bring him these terrible rings?
The worst part was these hadn't even been the real rings!
He bit his lip, looking at the bruises and the cuts that lined the other's arms. It was too cruel, this world that Reborn wanted to throw him into. And it wasn't just him, it was his family now. It was Gokudera, who looked up to him so much, and Yamamoto who had such a bright future that he shouldn't be letting himself get tangled up in these awful situations. What if he got himself hurt on Tsuna's watch? What if Yamamoto died just because of this stupid mafia game that he always thought they were playing?
Tsuna felt the barest traces of hot tears trickling over the lower lids of his eyes. He couldn't do this, not anymore, not with so many lives on stake. He couldn't let his friends, these strangers, or anyone else risk their precious lives for him, not for 'No Good' Tsuna.
"I can't...," he breathed, cursing himself as he felt that tell-tale lump in his throat, cutting off his breath, making it hard to swallow.
The soft hand that covered his almost made him jump, the seat he was resting in flying backwards with the sharp movement.
That boy, Basil, was looking at him, with the barest traces of a smile on his lips, "This one believes in thee, Lord Sawada."
"But- I- Aaaah! What are you even doing awake!?" Tsuna scrambled backwards, gaping at him, "I didn't mean to wake you up! In fact, you should be resting. I mean-"
A weak laugh escaped from Basil as he shook his head, eyes fixing on the ceiling, "This one was honored to serve you."
"I- Eh? What?" Tsuna gaped, stopping in his protests. There was no way. No one should look that happy about almost getting killed. For him of all people!
Basil's blue eyes were almost piercing as he looked over at him, solemn and calm, as his brow wrinkled, "Don't worry thyself. This one will recover. Thou should regain thine strength. This one is counting on thee to be strong where he couldn't."
Tsuna bit his lip, guilt sinking like a rock in the pit of his stomach, almost shaking his head. But, how could he protest? Pathetic, he chided himself. They were doing this for him, but he couldn't even tell them they didn't have to.
"I'll do my best," he said, weakly.